Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: March 26, 2023, 20:47 IST
Francesco Bagnaia received the Portuguese MotoGP (AP)
Francesco Bagnaia received the season-opening Portuguese MotoGP with Marc Marquez making a pricey mistake
World champion Francesco Bagnaia received Sunday’s season-opening Portuguese MotoGP after a pricey mistake by pole-sitter Marc Marquez.
Ducati star Bagnaia coasted throughout the road forward of Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales in the Algarve sunshine to comply with up his win in MotoGP’s inaugural dash 24 hours earlier.
Marquez crashed and worn out house favorite Miguel Oliveira on lap three to depart the best way clear for Bagnaia to get his championship defence off to an ideal begin.
Bagnaia leaves Portimao with a most 37 factors from the primary of the 21-race season.
“That’s the beginning me and my workforce wished,” the Italian told motogp.com.
“We have to keep going like this.”
He then joked that after Saturday’s 12-lap sprint in the dash “I’m not used to such an extended race”.
Bagnaia’s compatriot Marco Bezzecchi, riding Ducati’s VR46 bike, came in third to complete the podium.
If it was fairly plain crusing for the world champion it was something however for Marquez.
A rare moment of madness from the Spaniard provided the main drama of the afternoon.
The pole sitter clipped Jorge Martin and then his out-of-control Honda slammed into the back of Oliveira’s KTM, wiping out the Portuguese rider who had high hopes of a podium finish in front of his home fans.
Marquez received a hostile reception from some of the fans on his return to the pits where he quickly made his way to Oliveira’s garage to offer his apologies.
The six-time former world champion suffered a suspected hand fracture as well as a time-penalty.
Martin, facing an uphill task to get back into the race, eventually slipped out with six laps left.
Oliveira had led fleetingly, following a quick start from the second row on the grid, before Bagnaia forged to the front, seconds before Marquez made his intervention.
Vinales was encouraged by his promising start to the season.
“I feel good, I missed the chance to overtake because ‘Pecco’ (Bagnaia), I knew, had a little more (pace).
“I’m actually really happy – we are going to fight in the front.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
